26~Youre mine
"Kiddo, listen." Najib crouched to the boy's height, lowering his voice. "If you want the whole bag of chocolates all to yourself, you'll have to do exactly as I say."
The little boy's eyes lit up. "Really? I'll get the whole bag?"
Najib smiled. "Every single one of them."
"I'll do it! Tell me what to do."
"Good." Najib slipped a few chocolate bars into the boy's pocket. "Here, have these first."
The boy grinned from ear to ear.
"Once you successfully do what I'm about to ask, I'll buy you more. That's a promise."
"Okay! Let's do it, sir!"
"That's my good boy." Najib ruffled the little boy's hair before pointing toward the shoreline.
"See that man sitting over there near the water? The one with the lady in the red dress?"
"The one who's laughing with her?" The boy asked.
"Exactly." Najib picked up a beach ball lying nearby and twirled it in his hand. "Now watch carefully."
He waited for the perfect moment, then aimed and threw it.
The ball flew across the beach before crashing straight into Faruk's wine glass, splashing its contents all over his shirt.
The boy's mouth fell open. "Whoa! Sir, that was an awesome throw!"
Najib chuckled. "Thanks, kiddo. Now it's your turn. I need you to keep him busy for at least an hour."
"But... how?"
Najib smiled.
"You're a clever boy, aren't you? How old are you?"
"Eleven."
"Only eleven..." Najib glanced toward the nearby snack stand before looking back at him with a smirk. "Yet you're smart enough to steal snacks."
The boy's eyes widened. "Shhh!" He whispered nervously. "Don't tell anyone."
"I won't." Najib smiled reassuringly. "But you have to promise me something."
"What?"
"No more stealing."
"I promise."
"Good. Help me with this, and I'll buy you every chocolate in that bag. I have plenty of money."
The boy nodded eagerly. "I won't steal again. I'll help you."
Satisfied, Najib turned his attention back to Hanan and Faruk.
"Come on... get up."
He watched them silently, wishing Faruk leaves.
"Get up..."
As though fate had answered him, Faruk suddenly rose from his seat.
A slow smile spread across Najib's face.
"Sorry, Cousin." He murmured under his breath as Faruk headed toward the restroom, grumbling about his stained clothes.
Najib looked at the boy.
"Go now. He's heading to the restroom. Keep him occupied somehow. Lock him in if you have to... just be smart about it."
The boy gave him a confident smile.
"Okay sir!"
Without another word, he ran off.
"Thank God..." Najib murmured under his breath, a relieved smile tugging at his lips as he lifted his gaze to the starred sky. "Now I just need everything to go exactly as I planned."
After a brief moment, he began walking towards Hanan.
Halfway there, he pulled out the camera he brought along and quietly captured a few candid pictures of her.
Click.
Click.
Click.
A faint smile curved on his lips as he stared at the photos.
She looked extra breathtaking tonight.
Then his smile faded once he realized.
"She dressed up so beautifully... for another man."
A sharp sting settled in his chest, but he pushed it aside.
What he was about to do was reckless.
Stupid, even.
Yet, he needed answers.
He had to know if there was still a place for him in her heart.
Ever since he watched Faruk kneel to change her shoes earlier, saw the genuine smile on her face, and witnessed how comfortable she looked around him, jealousy had gnawed relentlessly at him.
For the first time in years, regret consumed him.
He wished he could turn back time.
He wished he had cherished her instead of taking her love for granted.
He wished he protected her instead of breaking her.
But if fate had given him another chance...
He intended to take it.
No matter how reckless it made him look.
Making Hanan his again...
That was all he wanted.
He was only a few steps away when he lifted the camera once more, taking more pictures.
The shutter sound caught her attention.
She slowly lifted her head.
The moment her eyes landed on him, they widened in disbelief.
"Najib...?"
She stared at him as though she had seen a ghost.
What was he doing here?
A lazy smirk spread across his face.
"Hi."
He lifted a hand and gave her a casual wave.
"What..." The remaining words died in her throat.
"You look surprised to see me." He chuckled.
Without waiting for an invitation, he walked over and comfortably occupied Faruk's spot on the picnic mat.
As though he belonged there.
He reached for a slice of pizza and casually took a bite.
Hanan's brows knitted together.
"Get lost."
Her voice was barely above a whisper, but the fury behind it was evident.
He ignored her completely.
Instead, his gaze landed on the wine glass beside her.
Without hesitation, he picked it up.
He deliberately drank from the exact spot her lips had touched.
After finishing, he licked the remaining drop from his lower lip before flashing her a satisfied grin.
"He has good taste in wine." Najib said lazily. "I enjoyed it."
That was the final straw.
Hanan's patience snapped.
She grabbed the wine bottle, intending to splash the remaining across his face.
Before she could... Najib caught her wrist.
His grip tightened so firmly that she could barely feel her hand.
She winced.
Then, with his free hand, he took the bottle from her grasp and drank every last drop.
Empty.
He lowered the bottle with a satisfied smile. "We shouldn't waste food."
A smug smile played on his lips.
"That's a bad habit."
A frustrated laugh escaped Hanan. "Why are you doing this?"
Her voice trembled with anger.
"Haven't you ruined my life enough?"
"I've decided to move on."
"I've decided to erase you."
"So stop meddling in my life."
"Please..."
Her eyes glistened.
"Just leave."
Najib leaned back slightly.
"Oh really?" He chuckled.
"Yes." She nodded firmly.
"I'm in a relationship now."
"I have a boyfriend."
"He only stepped away for a moment, and when he comes back, he won't appreciate seeing you here."
She clasped her hands together, almost pleading.
"So please... Leave."
"Get lost."
"A boyfriend?" Najib let out an amused laugh.
"What boyfriend?"
"My cousin?"
"Faruk?"
"Yeah." She frowned.
"So?" He shook his head laughing.
"Don't be ridiculous."
"He can't be your boyfriend."
"You don't love him."
"Or do you?"
"I know you don't."
A confident smirk settled on his face.
Hanan went silent.
Her glare alone could have burned through his skin.
"Shut up!" She snapped. "And who exactly are you to decide that?"
"Simple." He shrugged.
"Tell me you love him."
"And I'll leave."
She let out a sarcastic laugh.
"Huh? Do I look like your employee?"
"Since when do you get to order me around?"
She crushed the tissue in her hand before throwing it straight at his face.
It bounced harmlessly off him.
"Listen carefully, Najib Aminu Garba."
She pointed a trembling finger at him.
"You are a narcissist, self centered, A heartless murderer."
"So stick to being exactly that."
"And get out of my sight."
"Right now!"
Najib sighed dramatically. "You're too harsh. But it's okay."
He smiled.
"Because you've just confirmed something for me."
"You don't love him."
"You're only leading the poor boy on."
"And sooner or later... You'll shatter his fragile heart."
"NAJIB!"
Her angry voice echoed across the beach.
For the briefest second... He actually flinched.
Then he smiled again.
Because this... This was exactly the reaction he wanted.
"You have no idea how much I hate you." Her voice broke.
"How much I despise you."
Tears blurred her vision as she stood up, intending to leave.
Najib immediately caught her wrist again.
"Let go!"
She struggled against him.
His grip only tightened.
"You don't hate me, Habibti."
His smile softened.
"You never could."
"Look at me."
"I've got the looks."
"The money."
"The brains."
He tilted his head.
"What exactly is there to hate?"
Hanan stared at him in utter disbelief.
Then she laughed.
Not because she found him funny, because she couldn't believe the audacity.
"I could never hate you?"
She laughed again, shaking her head.
"You really want to know what I hate?"
"Everything."
Her eyes locked onto his.
"Everything about you... Even your existence."
"So what makes you so certain I don't hate you?"
Najib's expression remained calm. "Because I know when you're lying, Habibti."
"And right now... You're only lying to protect your pride."
His gaze never left hers.
"And let me make something very clear."
"Faruk can never take my place."
"You're mine."
"You've been mine."
"And you'll always be."
"Wow!"
She burst into laughter.
"What exactly do you think of yourself?"
"How can you stand there and say I belong to you like I'm some possession of yours?"
"You don't own me, you never will, I would rather die than let that happen..."
Only then did she realize he was still holding her wrist.
She yanked.
He didn't let go.
She pulled harder.
Nothing.
Without a second thought...
She sank her teeth deep into the skin of his hand.
Hard.
A sour taste flooded her mouth immediately.
Blood.
Only then did she release him..
She immediately jerked her hand free.
"Get lost!"
She spat out, wiping her lips aggressively.
Najib merely looked at the bite mark before laughing softly.
His grin only grew wider.
"Stay away from me!"
She glared at him.
"Next time you touch me... I won't hesitate to hurt you even more."
She snatched up her phone and stormed away.
Behind her...
Najib chuckled.
"Run, Habibti."
"Run all you want."
"You'll only exhaust yourself."
"Because you'll come back to me, you will always will."
She stopped just long enough to look back.
"I repeat! I do not belong to you!"
"So shut up and get lost!"
"Okay, Habibti." His smirk only deepened.
Hanan clenched her fists walking away.
"He's such an asshole."
"He gets on my nerves."
She wiped her lips once again as though trying to erase every trace of him.